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need pickup/pot/jack replacement help

skeptikal

skeptikal

Jan 24, 2008
399
42
Northern Indiana
#1
I have looked around at new pickups for my Squier VM modified Jazz. I could care less about the Squier 'tag', I just want to upgrade the electronics on it and get a better sound out of it (instead of spending another 600$+ on a new bass). I bought a leo-quan badass II bridge to put in with it. I don't really have a particular sound in mind, just something clean, and smooth.

I've been eyeballin' the Noiseless Fender Jazz pickups so I think I'm gonna go with those as pickups unless anyone has any objections.

But my question is I want to replace the pot's / input jack too (as mine is wiggling around in there) but I'm kind of ******** when it comes to those. Anyone have any ideas?

I have a "luthier" lined up to replace all these I just need to buy the parts. Thanks for all your help, and sorry for the long-winded post, i'm in IT and I have to get/provide as much information as possible all the time.
 
#2
If you are in IT, you should be able to find out an answer pretty quickly on the internet :)
most passive Jazzes like yours use the standard Fender wiring

get good 250k Audio pots such as CTS or Alpha, and get a good jack such as switchcraft, and if you can solder you are all set. Ebay has good deals on these parts but you can also check out stewmac.com, wymoreguitars.com and such.


BTW, I work as a sys admin. ;)
 

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#4
Pickup will have most audible effect. Tone capacitor may have an effect. Get a film one if concerned. Pots and jack are usually binary: either work or they don't. Under normal conditions, no one can hear the difference in a jack or a pot change. I wonder how much thought Leo put into his selection of pots in 1951?
 
#6
So I just got done ordering my replacement electronic stuff

Went with the DiMarzio DP149BK pups
and Link Removed , i know i know it's already pre-wired but eh, ease = worth it.

I also bought a LeoQuan BA II bridge to slap on 'er. Spent just over ~$200 for the replacement stuff, can't wait to get all this stuff in to see how she sounds.

Thanks for all the help :P
 
#7
DavePlaysBass said:
Pickup will have most audible effect. Tone capacitor may have an effect. Get a film one if concerned. Pots and jack are usually binary: either work or they don't. Under normal conditions, no one can hear the difference in a jack or a pot change. I wonder how much thought Leo put into his selection of pots in 1951?
Click to expand...
there's audio taper or linear taper.

there's different pot values

there's cheaper feeling pots and more solid pots

I put a lot of thought into what pots I use in a bass ;)
 
#8
skeptikal said:
So I just got done ordering my replacement electronic stuff

Went with the DiMarzio DP149BK pups
and Link Removed , i know i know it's already pre-wired but eh, ease = worth it.

I also bought a LeoQuan BA II bridge to slap on 'er. Spent just over ~$200 for the replacement stuff, can't wait to get all this stuff in to see how she sounds.

Thanks for all the help :P
Click to expand...

I think you made nice choices. I would like to hear how happy you are with the results when done.

I love the baddass so much I put them on all of my fender style basses.

Good luck and I hope you love the new sound!
 
#9
My mim jazz bass I put duncan antiquity pickups in and a badass 2bridge and hipshot tuners. It was all pretty simple. I think you could probably do it your self. So when you bought the badass 2 did you get the one with the pre filed saddles? I filed the saddles my self it wasnt hard at all. My next project for the jazz bass is replace the pots with alpha 500k pots. And then after that my vm p bass gets a badass 2 bridge. You picked some good stuff to go on your bass I hope your happy with it. Was your stock bridge on the vm squire sharp? When I first got it I some how cut my hand on the bridge. I think it was on the set screws that raise and lower the saddles
 
#10
Nah I never cut myself, I was actually going to buy a new bass. But then I thought about it and I figured a couple hundred bucks in new parts would give me a nice sound without a huge price tag.

I'm just going to have my guy do it that I get lessons from. He's great at what he does and I'm going to have to get it re-setup anyways putting the new bridge on. I can't wait to get the parts so I can get it put together.
 

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